Machine for harvesting headed vegetables



April 12 1932. w. H. ANDERSON 1,853,109

I MACHINE FOR HARVESTING BEADED VEGETABLES Filed April 14, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet l April 12, 1932. w. H ANDERSON 1,853,109

MACHINE FOR HARVESTING HEAbED VEGETABLES I Filed April 14, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet z gwmnto'o April 1932- wv H ANDERSON MACHINE FOR HARVESTING HEADED VEGETABLES Filed April 14, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 April 1932- w.v H ANDERSON 1,853,109

MACHINE FOR HARVESTING BEADED VEGETABLES Filed April 14, 1930 -4 Sheets-Sheet 4 auouulu PatentedApr. 12,1 1932i WALTERT'H. ANDERSON, 0]? LOS ANGEDESQCALIFORNIA MAG HINEFOR HARVESTING- HFnZ-LDIED' VEGETABLES 1 Applicationfiled April 14,-

Mydrwentionc relates to harvesters, and.

more particularly; to: suchharvesters as are adapted to: harvest: headedyegetables, such ElSfilGttHCfiyfifibbZtgflS, cauliflower and the like,

'whereby the'xcrop toibe=harvested is gathered, 4 cut, collected fand ielevatedor delivered to the point or points O.dl$l12l1g.;.

It accord nglyiis aniob3eet of mynnventlon to: provide niovelformfof harvesternn which 10-la suitable; frameworki;is associated in any preferred :way. with preferably an axle upon which i are mountedsiai. pair of wheels, said 1 framework'andi said axle havingmeans associated therewith whereby said framework 'm-ay *be;eleyatedc with: respect to said axleso the; harvester :may be guided about the field, said-frameworkhai ing: associated therewith al cropc. gathering means, preferably in" the shapeg of one orzmore endless belts, mounted in any suitable manneri with IBSPGCUtO saidframework,:saidbelts having associated there with a (set :of i swinging crop gathering and moving sweeps; the crop, as it is gathered-, be-

ing 'preferablysimultaneously out byza novel form oficutten which cutter is resiliently and adjustablyiniounted- :on said framework, so

said-mutter may :optionally cut the 'cropiboth above and below 'tl1e :soil,%there being also associated: :with saidiframework, .a corp: col- *lecting means, preferably positionedin .in-'

clinedand detachable relation withv said framework; the cut and collected crop being.

carried to: ansuitableelevator or conveyer, whichlelevates orconVeyssame-to thepoint or =*points of discharge, power drivenrmechanism being associated with saidrmovable parts so they may be operated in timed relationgand suitable means being alsov prowded- @for controllingitheoperation: of said power I driven mechanism, as well the direction of move mentiof said elevator or conreyer.

The ab'o eand further objects and advan-. tages -of my inyention, as willhereinafter more fullyappear; I'attain by: the construc 'tion described in the specification, and illustratedcin its preferredfornron the drawings" forming apart ofmy application.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings; in which similarareferencecharacters denotesimi-larrparts. In thezdrawings, 6

1930. Serial No.- 444,096;

Fig, ,1 is a top plan View of my invention, i. parts beinglcut away and fore-shortened, and? omitted for the sake of clearness,

Fig. 2is aifront elevational View of F.ig.;1, c Fig, .3 is aside elevational lview of. Fig; 1,. 5 a

Fig, lis amore -orless diagrammati rfragv mentary planview. of thepower driven. mech-.,. anism gforoperating the moving parts of then machine,v the framework being shown; inddot-c ted lines,

Fig, 5 is c an enlarged longitudinal section a1 ,view o fthe elevator iorconveyer, the dotted 4 lines. indicating the twoiapositions said-fele'va tonmay assume on either side of-the machine i Fig. 6 is apart sectionalandpart elevation al iew oftheframe .elevatingvmeans, and; the. means is: holdingsame lockedinits elevated,v position Fig.,7" is. agpart sectional and .a part ele'va: tional View of Fig...6,- c v i Fig; r8.is azperspectiveview of the mechanism forzreversing the"direction off the ele-Q vator or conveyor, parts beingshown insecti0n,.. c H c c i Fig, 9 isa cross-sectional View, taken on the c. 75" line 99, Fig.8, I v

Fig, 10 is an enlarged top, plan View of the cutter, r Fig ll is an enlarged cross-sectional View, taken on the line 11 -11, Ei'g o 10,1. 7

Eig 12 or is an enlarged cross-sectional view through the cutter, and resiliently and- 'ad-' justably mounted floatingrshaft therefor,

Fig.1 13 is an-enlarged fragmentarytop-plan 'view of one ofrthe belt crop gatherer sweeps, ,35i5

flowenlettuce and the-like, andiconsists of aframework suitablysuspended from 'an' axle5 up'on iwhich are mounted a mail" of wheels by E means of which: said-machine may be -pro se I pelled about the field, either by animals, tractor, or in any other suitable way, said framework, when elevated, permitting the machine to be guided about the field as well as permitting an elevator or conveyer, for elevating or conveying the harvested crop to the point or oints of discharge, to be adjusted from one side to the other of the machine.

Said framework is adapted to be juxtaposed or to straddle the crop to be harvested, and associated therewith in any preferred way are the crop gathering and collecting means, in the form of one or more endless belts provided with a set of sweeps, and a cutting means or cutter, preferably of novel form, for severing the crop from its roots as it is gathered, said sweeps moving the har vested crop on a novel form of grid or crop collecting means, preferably inclined with respect to the framework, said sweeps moving the collected crop to a novel form of conveyer or elevator, which elevates or conveys the harvested crop to the point or points of dis charge, which may be a wagon, or set of receptacles, or the like.

The moving parts of the machine are moved by any suitable power driven mechanism, mounted in suitable bearings in the framework, and may be driven by a suitable motor, such as an internal combustion engine, any suitable means, such as a pulley and belt shift, manually operated, being provided to control said mechanism, manual means being also rovided to reverse the direction of movement of the elevator or conveyer.

The framework has associated therewith on its under side, a number of guiding and supporting sway strips. one of which is adapted to prevent the soil from reaching the cut ter. Although any preferred number of these may be employed, four are shown, the two forward ones being of different form than the two in the rear of the machine.

More specifically. my invention comprises an axle 2 of suitable form, dimensions and material, and on said axle are mounted the propelling wheels 4, said axle being providedwith a suitable tongue or tractor hitch 8 by which the machine may be drawn, either by animals or tractor. said axle being also provided with a drivers seat 10, mounted on said axle in any desired manner, as by the bolted support 11.

Unconnected in any way with the axle 2, except in the manner presently to be described is the framework, designated generally by the reference numeral 12, said framework preferably consisting of a pair of longitudinal members 14, which may be angular in form, and if desired, rectangular in cross-section the parts being in practice shaped to form, and welded together in any suitable manner; and as a guiding means the front portions of the members 14 are pointed as at 16.

The members 14 are adapted to be supported upon the ground by the forward sway strips 15 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) and the rear sway strips 17, the two former being formed as shown to deflect the soil as the machine is moved forwardly, the forward right strip 15 preventing the soil from reaching the cutter 42, hereinafter more particularly described.

The crop gathering mechanism, with means for selectively engaging each head as the framework 12 is passed over the crop, so it may be harvest-ed, comprises at least one movable means, in the shape of an endless belt 18, said belt, ifdesired, being sectional and having its parts secured together, said belts being passed over suitable front pulleys 20, and rear pulleys 22, the framework 12 being cut away for this purpose, and the mounting any that in practice may be preferred. On the belts 18 are mounted the crop gathering and engaging sweeps 24, hereinafter to be more particularly described.

Positioned between the two longitudinal members 14 of the framework 12 is the cro collector or carrying grid 26, which is pref erably positioned in inclined relation with said members, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 3, said grid being preferably constructed of a set of longitudinal strips or elements 28, and a set of cross bars 30, and 32, at least one of which, such as the front bar 30, being diagonally positioned with relation to the longitudinal strips, to facilitate the depositing of the harvested crop on said grid, as will presently be explained.

The diagonal bar 30 is provided at each end with a knob 34, which are adapted to engage in horizontal slots 36, formed in the sides of the members 14, and the bar 32 formed with similar knobs 38, but differently positioned with respect to said bar 32, in the vertical slots 40 of the members 14, these features permitting the grid 26 to be removed from the framework when desired and when needed.

Preferably but one cutting means or cutter 42 is provided for severing the heads from the vegetables, which cutter is mounted be low the right hand member 14, and is preferably of novel rather than conventional form, as will be hereinafter more particularly explained.

Associated in a suitable way with the framework of the machine is a conveyer or crop elevating means, designated generally by the reference numeral 44, (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5) which will hereinafter also be more particularly described. Said conveyer or crop elevating means may be swung from one side of the machine to the other, so as to discharge the harvested crop at any point or points desirable, the axle 2 having associated therewith in any manner in practice preferred, as by welding a pair of conveyer or elevator supports or rests 46. (Figs. 1, 2 and 3.)

Mounted uponthemachine in any suitable position," a d in any suitable way, and; j as 1 shown "on the drawings, may-be mounted on 5* 48, which may, if desired, comprise any conventlonal- :fcrm of internal f combustion engine; andsaid' motor is adapted to drive in tin1e-Telation the --pulleys 22am 24, the cut-' ter-42,=' and th'e conveyer144,-lo'y the mecha- 10 nisnr depicted in suggestive form in Fig. 4; It? will 5 be of course understood th'at -any other means for driving said elements may bensedf and still remain within the province of my invention:

as this far describedis asfollows:

Atractor or'a set of 'animals are-hitched to The generahoperation of the mechanism the-'tongue 8, the operator occupying the seat l 10," raises the frameelevating means, to be Z more particularly described later; so the-machinemaybe guided about the crop field; the

weight of'theyarious partsof the machinebeing I borne -solely "by-the 1 wheels 4. Having reached the ro'wstof the=crop to be harvested," the fr'amework is lower-ed, the members 14-- straddling said: row;

The motor 48-"is now set in operation, and

byzmeans 'of the' power transmission 111621118 to be hereinafter=more fully described, the

24, as well as-the cutter-42" and conveyer 44 are set in motion.

The firs'tyegetable reachedmay not at'firsti be gathered, but Will be-by the succeeding:

belts 18 and their-' sweeps sweeps that move aroundithe front ends-of the members .14.. Ihemissingpf one 'or two heads 18 accordingly immaterial since the succeeding sweeps f: will take care of i same.

The-first head-, then, is engaged by the two sweeps 24 as they are in ali nment; and thecutter f42, jpreferably rotating clock-wise toward"the gcliagonalz bar 30;} severs' l the head from it'swoots'; the cutter -fby its novel form,-

assisting Y the sweeps 24, in" depositinggsaid 3 head upomthe grid 26, where-saidhead and I Bearing in mindthis general description ofthe oper'ati on of'the machine, the various parts Will now bemore specifically-described:

" Fi ameworkreleoating means 7 This mechanism is more particularly shownlin liigskfiaand 7, but reference should I be had also to Figs. l,2, and 3; said Ineoha- "*nisin comprises 'astandard 50, secured in any suitable way to the members 14 of 'the framework 12, as bythe-bolts 52,there'being'two such standardsf one for eachof the members 14, the parts b'eing identical j hen'ce but. one set will' be described? I I i The-standard 50 is slidabfimountedone= bearing 54, suitably-secured to the bottom 'of the axles2; as sby. theebolts -56, said bearing having a front slide way or guide 58 in which may be -positionedthe;khobiGUKFigf'T to go provide fdr: a steady reciprocation of 'the" standard 50 within the bearing 54; andse cured tothetop' of the-standard in any suit able way as =by means of theeye-'62,- is the cable I 64, adapted t0=be seeured to and move withthe-grooved wheels 66* (F 6), which wheels arek'eyed to-a cross shaft*68, mounted inbearings 69 (F land 2) and-"bearing-in its middlethe sector'ratehet-*70, adapted to 5 be engaged b'y'tlie'conventional manual lever and 'pawl "device 72 (Fig; 6-) so the :entire framework including th'econveyer 44, may be li ftedbodily, so'the machine' maiy be guided about th e cropg field; the. enormous leverage-obtainable iby -the 'construoti on just described making-thismanipulation an easy and I simple matter: a

The cutter or cutfz'ngi-mechansmi:

Attention =isvlmore ,particularlyidirectdto! arms :78, e;x tending radially therefrom,;s'aid r iflg adapted to be rotatedin a clock wise direction, forthe purpose, as previously mentioned, toassist in pushing the harvested crop; onto. the collectors gridf26, each arm. being preferably rhbmboid in cross-section (Fig.1.) for thispurpose, therarrow-in'Fig,

indicatingsthedirection ofrotation. The

cutter 4211s preferably; reversible so both sides may be used in cutt-ing;,the.cutteredge I V coactingwith the bar 30 of the grid 26, much in the manner 0f a*'pair *ofscissors-s Tfiefidati'rigcutter shaft" Reference is more particularly had to Figs; 12 'and 35 The cutter-425s detachably associa ed with a shaft 80, providedwith a set of 'vertical slots or grooves '82i'extending' but" a part of the length thereoffso that asst-015 adjustingnuts 84; provide dwith keys to move. insaidslots or grooves as the cutterAshaft'SO floats up and. down to ,accommodateaitself to soil conditions, a set of? tension springs 86 being. provided as. shown so' said Icutter willv .e be: resiliently mounted; said shaft by reason of the nuts 84; being-adaptediobeiadjustedl so that the cutteri42 willcut below the-"soil, as in the case of iZLBlGttHCGFCIOP,Said shaft be-.- ing operated by'ra pinion: 88 mounted: thereon,

: wl1ich="piniont'in' turn is actuated :by a :worm- 1 gear 90 (Filgi;'.4,* more panticularly), inzxthe 's manner hereinafter more particularly described.

' Sweeps or crop gathering means These are designated generally by the reference numeral 24, and are more particularly shown in Figs. 13 and 14, but reference should be had also to Figs. 1-3 inclusive.

The sweeps 24, as previously explained, are adapted to gather the crop, so the cutter 42 may sever same from its roots, which sweeps are mounted upon the belts 18 at suitable intervals, and are adapted to move relatively to said belts as well as with them.

As seenin Fig. 13, each sweep has an anchoring means or cleat 92, riveted to or otherwise associated with the belts 18, and preferably pivoted or hinged to said anchoring means 92 by the pivot or hinge construction 94, is the body 96 of the sweeps, which body has preferably mounted upon its free end a crop engaging lug or other means 98, to facilitate moving the crop up the inclined grid 26 (Fig. 3, more particularly), said sweeps assuming the position depicted in Fig. 3 when they are moving over said grid. It is of course essential for the proper functioning of the sweeps 24, that they be resiliently mounted, and at the same time capable of having said resiliency adjusted.

For this purpose I provide a suitable spring means 100, secured in any suitable manner to the body 96 of the sweep 24. such as the staples 102, and the upper end 104 has a set screw 106 associated as preferred with the anchoring means 92. To limit the movement of the sweeps 24, I may provide the belt 18 at the required position with a set of stop pins 108, of which there may be any tpreferred number. Of course other stop means may be provided, or the resilient means and the adjustment therefor, may be in practice varied as desired.

The elevating O7" conveying means Reference is more particularly had to Fig. 5, to be considered in connection also with Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

The conveyer or elevating means 44, which .may be swung to either side of the machine,

;ablv light framework, consisting of side boards 110 between which are mounted for rotation a set of pulleys 112, 114 and 116, the axles 118 of which are mounted in said boards, and in the boards 111, having spacers 109, and thereby form a rigid construction, said framework having an extension 120 (Fig. 5) pivoted to swing on the axle 122 of the drive pulley 114, and the pulley 114, as well as the'pulley 116 are each provided with a sprocket wheel 124, over which is positioned a chaindrive 126, (Figs. 1, 3 and 4) the drive pulley 114, as presently to be explained, driving the other pulleys through a transmission mechanism connected to the drive shaft of the motor 48.

Over the said pulleys an endless slack conveyer or elevator belt 128 is adapted to be positioned, said belt having a set of harvester crop conveying cleats 130, secured to said belt in any manner in practice preferred, and betap at the bottom and slack at the top The shaft 122 of the pulley 114 is mounted in an end plate 132, (Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5) which plate is secured in any suitable way as by the extensions 134 (Fig. 3) to the longitudinal members 14 of the framework 12, said framework by said means supporting the entire conveyer or elevator and its adjuncts. The dotted lines in Fig. 5 indicate the portion of the conveyer after it has been swung to the opposite side of the machine.

In so doing, the framework 12 must first be elevated by the means depicted in Fig. 6, so as to give the proper clearance for the extension 120, which extension pivots about the shaft 122 and is swung to the right of Fig. 5, said extension serving to receive the harvested crop collected on the grid 26, and dropped thereon, after which the cleats 130 carry said crop to the top, where it is discharged into a wagon or a set of receptacles following the machine or placed at different points along the crop field.

The transmission mechanism This is more particularly shown in Fig. 4, to be used in connection with Figs. 1-3 and also Fig. 8.

The shaft 133 of the motor 48 has a belt drive and pulley shift 135, to provide for a direct drive and for idling, said shaft 133 driving the longitudinal shaft 136, mounted in suitable bearings 138 on the framework 12, said shaft having keyed thereto the worm gear 90 to drive the pinion 88 of the cutter 42, and at its other end a bevel gear 140, in mesh with a complementary bevel gear 142 on a driven shaft.- 144, which shaft is provided with the roller or spool pinions 148 of the pulleys 22 (Fig. 1) over which the belts pass. The conveyer or elevator 44, is driven from the shaft 144 by means of the bevel gear 150 keyed thereon, means being provided for reversing the direction of the movement of the conveyer or elevator belt 128 (Fig. 5), which means will now be described.

Conveyer 01- elevator shifting means See more particularly Figs. 4 and 8, to be read with Figs. 1-3.

Positioned within a casing 152, (Fig. 4), which casing is connected with the framework 12 in any suitable way, is a stub shaft 154, mounted to be reciprocated and rotate cutter is mounted, a pinion for rotating said shaft, means associated with the framework of said harvester for holding said pinion from vertical movement, sets of resilient means surrounding said shaft, at least one of said resilient means being adapted to engage said first mentioned means, and means for adjusting the tension of said resilient means.

"9. A vegetable head carrying grid adapted for special use in connection with a vegetable head" harvester, said grid comprising a framework composed of a set of longitudinail strips of varying length, cross bars connecting the respective ends of said strips, at least one of which is positioned in diagonal relation with said strips to assist the cutter of said harvester to cut the crop, and a knob 'on'each end of each of said cross bars, said knobsbeing adapted to engage sets of vertical and horizontal slots in inclined and in detachable relation with respect to said framework.

10. In a vegetable head harvester, a framework adapted to straddle the rows of the headed vegetables to be harvested, gatl'iering means for selectively gathering said crop, cutting means for selectively cutting each vegetable as it is gathered, means for discharging the harvested crop optionally upon each side of said harvester, and means for supporting said framework on the ground, said means comprising a set of forward sway strips, at least one of which is adapted to divert the soil away from said cutting means, and a set of rear sway strips, said strips bein positioned on said framework in off-set refation therewith.

11. In a vegetable head harvester, including means for gathering, cutting and collecting the crop to be harvested, the combination of a framework, a wheel axle from which said framework is supported, means for raislng and lowering said framework, said means comprising one or more standards secured to said framework, one or more guides, secured to said axle, in which said standards are adapted to be reciprocated, one or more pulleys mounted upon said axle, means for connecting said standards to said pulleys, manual means for turning said pulleys, and means associated with said manual means for looking same in adjusted position.

12. In a harvester including a framework, crop gathering, cutting and collecting means associated with said framework, the combination of an end board associated with said framework, a crop conveyer associated with said board and said framework, said conveyer comprising a set of pulleys, one of said pulleys comprising means for driving said conve er, an endless slack belt positioned over said pulleys, the lower side of which is taut when said conveyer is in operation, a bearing on said framework in which the shaft of said driving pulley is adapted to turn, means associated with said conveyer for preventing the falling off of the crop as it is elevated, and means associated with said harvester whereby said conveyer may be'swung to either side and supported in each position. '13. In a harvester, a framework, a pair of wheels, an axle upon which said wheels are adapted to turn, means associated with said framework and said axle whereby said framework may be lifted and held in position so a framework supported by said axle, crop is harvested, crop gathering means operable on said framework, cutting means on said framework adapted selectively to out said crop as it is gathered, crop collecting means detachably associated to said framework, means for elevating the collected crop to the point of discharge, and power operated mechanism for driving said gathering means, said cutting means, and said elevating means.

14. In a harvester, including a framework and means for gathering, cutting and collecting the crop to be harvested, the combination of a conveyer positioned at the rear of said framework, said conveyer comprising a set of pulleys, one of which is adapted to be rotated by the power driven mechanism of said harvester, an endless slack belt travelling on said pulleys, a set of crop carryingcleatson said belt, means juxtaposed to both sides of said belt to prevent said crop from falling off said conveyer as it is moved, and means associated with at least one of said pulleys, whereby the others may be driven thereby.

15. In a harvester, a pair of wheels, an axle upon which said wheels are adapted to rotate,

a framework supported by said axle, crop gathering means adapted to be moved on said framework, crop cutting means movable on said framework, crop collecting means over which said crop gathering means is adapted to be moved, said crop collecting means being inclined with respect to said framework, an elevator for elevating the harvested crop to the point of discharge, mechanism for moving said crop gathering means, said crop cutting means, and said elevator, a motor for operating said mechanism, and means for controlling the operation of said motor.

16. In a harvester, a pair of wheels, an axle for said wheels, a framework, means associated with said axle whereby said harvester may be propelled, means associated with said framework and said axle whereby said frame work may be elevated so it may be guided about the field, a set of pulleys mounted to turn on said framework, one or more endless belts adapted to be moved over said pulleys crop gatheringand moving means associated with said belts, cutting means for cutting said crop as it is gathered, a crop elevator associated with said framework for elevating the gathered crop to the point or points of discharge, mechanism for actuating said belts said crop gathering and moving means, an

P ering means associated With said framework,

cro cuttin fmeans movable on said frame- Work, crop elevating means for elevating the harvested crop to the point or points of dis} charge, mechanism for operating said crop a gathering means, said crop cutting means and said cropelevating means in timed relation, a motor for operating said mechanism, means for controlling said motor,and manual means for controlling the direction said crop elevator.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

WALTER H. ANDERSON.

of movement of 

